Wild Blackberries?

bobbywett

bobbywett

Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
1,231
Hey Guys,

Just bought some Blackberries from my local grocer and found them very tasty. One of my buddies said they grow wild here in PA. When is the best time to forage for these delicacies, and do they really grow here in PA? Where should I look?

Any Help is Appreciated Greatly,


Thanks,

Bob,

Hershey, PA
 
Depending on wether you are in the mts.. june through sept.. they start to fruit but I would bank on late July early August to get them at peak.. they grow as thrny brambles...sunny thickets at the margins of where wooded area breaks into a field are a good place to look to find them
 
Are you talking Blackberries or Black raspberries? I have never seen blackberries in the woods...but raspberries you can normally find in random patches in the woods (maybe in a clearing that has been overgrown with brush?). They are very good...I made a berry crisp out of the stuff I picked...yummy
 
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Are the berries you bought big like these, if so they are tame/thornless bushes you can buy the plants at a nursery. I have a bunch in my yard.

Blackberries grow wild on every fence row or thicket here in Ky.

The wild berries are smaller and full of seeds and dont taste nearly as good.
 
Apparently in the UK there are over 2,000 micro species of blackberries, which goes some way to explaining why some bushes produce better tasting fruit, while others offer only hard and sour ones.
 
Here, the wild blackberries are already gone and have been for a coupla weeks, while the 'thornless' are still ripening. I have both in my yard and they are yummy!
 
im not sure about pa but here in ca thay grow everywhere and once they do, you cant stop them, they're almost a weed to some. they have bloomed here and will ripen by the end of the month. throughout the summer into fall a bush usually grows 2 or 3 "batches" i guess you would call them.they are a hot weather plant though so pa will prob have them,try looking in swampy wet areas around you.
 
Chiggers like raspberry bushes for some reason. I suggest a good dousing with Cutters.
 
I found a lot of these berries while hiking in the Arizona forest yesterday. A few yards away from these, a big pile of bear poo full of seeds.
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When I was growing up in upstate NY, I used to forage for black raspberries all the time. They are plentiful in the woods there.

There always seemed to be some ripe berries to be found for the majority of the summer.
 
Did someone mention Blackberries :D

I love 'em :thumbup::thumbup:

As well as a real treat straight from the bush, they make great Jams & pies :D

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Over here, they don't ripen in all areas at the same time.

My best advice is get out & about, locate the bushes in your local area and keep an eye on them to determine when the ones in your area will ripen :thumbup:



Kind regards
Mick
 
Blueberrys are ripe now,Blackberrys in a coupla more weeks. Old strip mines and railroad beds are good places to find them. Spray down good for skeeters before you start pickin . Blackberry Brandy is easy to make if your into that. All it takes is berrys and sugar and time.
 
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They are everywhere in MO. One good thing about working ambulance in a very rural area is all the scouting I get to do en route to calls etc....I know of at least 50 large patches. My favorite spots arent quite ready yet....a couple more weeks untill I harvest.

Anyone got a pic of Black Raz vs. Blackberry???
 
Later in the summer here in Maine. No finer breakfast to be had than going for an early morning walk when the air is still cool and grazing on blackberries chilled by the night air.
 
j williams said:
They are everywhere in MO. One good thing about working ambulance in a very rural area is all the scouting I get to do en route to calls etc....I know of at least 50 large patches. My favorite spots arent quite ready yet....a couple more weeks untill I harvest.

Anyone got a pic of Black Raz vs. Blackberry???
Click to expand...
Blackberry...
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Black Raspberry
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I don't quite agree with the names. I found at last year I have been calling "Black Raspberries" Blackberries and vice versa. If you ask me...someone went wrong many years ago :D:p
 
They're in full swing in northwest Arkansas right now.

As far as where, it's anywhere where woods meets open areas, such as.... roadsides! No need to get in under the trees; there won't be many. Just right at the edge of the woods.

Country cemetaries are good, too- always mown right up to the woods, so the blackberries thrive right at the edge. Easier to park and get out than just the shoulder of the road. It's a public place; no one will be mad at you for being there. And there's virtually never anyone around, so it's all the peace and quiet you could want. :thumbup:
 
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Started finding ripe berries here about 10-14 days ago.
mulberries, too.
the wild strawberries are just about at the end of their run, so timing is perfect.
 
I went to Harriman State Park this weekend with JV3 and there a lot of blackberries, raspberries and possibly even blueberries there. We found them in a bunch of places. Usually being on the edge of larger plant growth and a path or next to the larger rocks there and the larger plant growth. Luckily they are easy to spot if you keep your eyes out. Probably would still need to wait a couple more weeks for the fruit to be fully grown, though some of them were edible as is.
 
A good survival rule of thumb, all segmented berries are edible. These photos are making me want to harvest some.
 
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